The Tutaka Programme in Rarotonga will begin next week from Monday, October 23 to November 3.

Te Marae Ora (TMO), the Ministry of Health, has not issued any fines to date to any person or resident who does not keep their compound clean as part of the Tutaka Programme.

Health Secretary Bob Williams said that the Tutaka Programme is a community initiative where TMO works with the community to mitigate possible vector-borne outbreaks by cleaning breeding bushes and other sources of standing water.

“Above all, it’s an initiative to keep our island and communities clean,” Williams said.

“In the spirit of togetherness, TMO works with residents by issuing letters of commendation and appreciation for cleaning or raising issues as required where places were not.”

Williams confirmed that TMO has not issued any fines to any person or resident because there is no provision under the Public Health Act for this form of enforcement action.

“A breach of any sections under the Public Health Act, TMO after taking certain actions can take any person to court,” Williams said.

“To do this, TMO will have to assess the nature of the breach versus the time, nature of severity and the amount of work required to take any person to court.

“Therefore, someone failing to clean their home for the purpose of the Tutaka programme is an activity that ‘would not warrant’ TMO to take to court. TMO would rather work with those residents in the spirit of togetherness.”

However Williams said that the new Public Health Bill, once enacted by Parliament, will provide TMO the power to issue monetary fines.

“There is a process and there are steps that TMO will have to undertake before a fine can be issued,” Williams said.

“This is to simplify TMO enforcement actions rather than having to take any person to court. However, failure to pay the fine may result in court proceedings taken against that person.”

The Tutaka Programme is an initiative to encourage the public to keep their environment clean and avoid any outbreak of dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and other environment diseases.